Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Tom stands on his chair just as Eliot had done, and I watch as Eliot tosses him the scepter. This time, it hits a dangling crystal on the chandelier. The crystal snaps off and plops with a clink into Charlie’s wine.
He looks like he wants to self-eject from the room, but he puts the goblet to his lips like he means to take a sip.
“Charlie,” our mom snaps, her eyes piercing him. “Drink that wine, and I will be rushing you to the hospital to dislodge glass from your lungs.”
“Counterargument. You let me bleed out here. Mercifully.”
“Counterargument,” Mom says. “Fuck no.”
Beckett pours a new glass of wine in his own empty goblet. He’s sitting far enough away from Charlie that he passes the drink down the table. When it reaches Charlie, he willingly abandons his old glass for Beckett’s.
“Death but struck the night twice,” Eliot exclaims ominously.
Mom narrows her yellow-green eyes. “No one is dying tonight or tomorrow or ever.” She points a matte black painted nail around at us. “You all shall live for centuries.”
“In mind and spirit,” Dad clarifies. “For the world will forever know your names alongside ours.”
“In body,” Mom argues with him. “For I’ll make sure they are all immortal.”
We drum the table together, except Tom who’s still standing on his chair. He taps it with his boot.
Dad’s grin widens. “I see the hunt for the Fountain of Youth persists.”
“It never ended.” She stakes him with a glare. “Would you stop me, Richard?”
He smooths his hair back, then lifts his wine. “Jamais.” Never. “Il n'y a qu'ensemble.” There is only together. I swear he glances at me at this, then raises his drink to Tom. “Mon fils.”
Mom also hoists her wine to him. “Gremlin. Proceed.”
Tom nods a thanks before surveying us around the table. “What constitutes betrayal in this family? Say, is it sleeping with the enemy?” His brows crane at me.
Can’t lie. I’m shocked. They’ve been quick to be nice to me like one false step will have me fleeing these dinners. This feels surprisingly more in fashion for my family.
I scoot forward. “Is this rhetorical?” I ask Tom.
“Nay.” He points his scepter at me. “Speak true.”
“I’d like you to clarify whether Harriet Fisher is an enemy of this family or an enemy of yours. And if she is your enemy, then why were you standing next to her at a bar last week?”
Everyone drums the table again.
Tom fights a smile, enjoying seeing me engage in this playful display. “I suffer through her presence for you, Ben Pirrip.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely. “And I haven’t slept with your enemy.”
Eliot clears his throat as he pours more wine. I snap a hard look at him. He has a diabolical smile as he tells me, “I said nothing, brother.”
“You’re implying I’m lying.”
“No, I simply felt a tickle in my throat.” He slouches back in his chair.
“Eliot Alice,” Mom chides. “Act your age or the Fountain of Youth will be dry before it reaches you.”
“Did you hear that?” Eliot asks our dad. “Mom is wishing death upon me.”
“If you want saved from her hyperboles, you’ll need to leave the room,” Dad says while eyeing me. “Are you dating Harriet?”
Mom’s neck nearly snaps when she zeroes in on me. “You have a girlfriend, and we haven’t met her?”
“Oh my fucking God,” I mutter.
“You’d fare better cursing to me,” Dad says, which we’ve all heard before. None of us are religious, clearly.
“Oh my Connor, does Ben have a girlfriend?” Tom teases, still standing on the fucking chair.
“You’re really wasting your whole opening on me?” I ask him.
“Dude, Mom is going to stab the goose if you don’t answer her. You should be happy I’m still focused on you.”
Our mom is gripping a knife. “When was this official? Did you not want us to know? Is it a secret?”
I wonder if the tension at the start of dinner was more about my relationship with Harriet. It eases me. I’d love for this to solely be about me and her.
“Harriet and I are basically…” I lift my shoulders, unsure of what to call someone you’re falling for. “We’re figuring things out. She’s my closest friend, and she’s extremely busy being pre-med, so that’s a big reason why you haven’t met her yet.”
“Have you taken her on a date, Pippy?” Jane wonders with a smile, resting her chin on her knuckles. “Where to?”
“Oui! Tell us absolutely everything.” Audrey draws her chair closer to mine. “What were you wearing? What did you eat?” Audrey gasps in excitement. “What did she smell like?”
“Please no,” Charlie pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I bet she was lovely,” Audrey swoons. “Ben would only date girls who smell absolutely divine.”
“Would he?” Charlie retorts, his hand clattering to the table. “On the basis of what?”
“On the basis of…of…” She spins to Jane for help.